DIMAPUR, JUL 8 (NPN): Eden Medical Centre (EMC) has issued a clarification regarding the hospital bill of a newborn whose father recently raised concerns over charges incurred during prolonged treatment under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS).
In a press release, the hospital management said the baby was born prematurely at around seven months of gestation, weighing 920 grams, and required immediate admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from birth. It said the baby remained in the NICU for 64 days and received continuous treatment from a team of paediatricians, nurses and support staff.
EMC stated that the baby required round-the-clock intensive care, including continuous oxygen therapy with or without Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) support, specialised neonatal monitoring, medications, laboratory investigations and comprehensive nursing care, which it said were medically necessary for the baby’s survival and recovery.
It explained that under CMHIS, the approved neonatal intensive care package was Rs. 1,400 per day, covering doctor’s consultation, nursing care, ICU bed charges and phototherapy. It added that approved add-on services, including oxygen therapy, laboratory investigations and other eligible services, were claimable under the scheme guidelines. It further stated that certain consumables such as diapers and baby food were excluded from insurance coverage under IRDAI guidelines.
According to EMC, the parents were informed at the time of admission that the CMHIS package would not fully cover expenses arising from a prolonged NICU stay and that additional charges might be incurred.
It said the parents had signed a written consent agreeing to bear expenses not covered under the scheme.
It stated that after the baby’s condition stabilised, the child was referred to another hospital for specialised paediatric surgery. It said the baby’s father had informed the hospital at the time of discharge that he was unable to clear the outstanding amount immediately and requested additional time, which the hospital agreed to.
EMC further stated that it had approached the Nagaland Health Protection Society (NHPS), explaining the exceptional circumstances of the case and seeking guidance on recovery of expenses exceeding the approved insurance package. According to the hospital, NHPS advised that eligible package add-ons could be utilised to reduce the patient’s financial liability, following which it was processing all eligible add-ons under CMHIS guidelines. The hospital expressed hope that the entire bill would be accommodated under the scheme once the process was completed.
EMC also claimed that it had made multiple attempts to contact the baby’s father to inform him that the matter had been referred to NHPS. However, it alleged that before the process could be completed or a final decision communicated, statements regarding the matter were made in the media which, in its view, did not accurately reflect the facts and had caused reputational harm to the institution.
The hospital said it was obtaining legal advice regarding publication of the statements and reserved all rights available under the law.
It reiterated its commitment to providing quality healthcare irrespective of patients’ financial circumstances and stated that its treatment and billing practices were transparent, ethical and in compliance with CMHIS guidelines and government policies.
Thursday, July 9, 2026